Apparatus and method for processing split view in portable device

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a method for processing a split view in a portable device. The method of processing a split view in a portable device, includes: displaying a plurality of applications as a split view corresponding to split display regions of a display unit; displaying an input panel on a display region of an application of the plurality of applications that did not call for the input panel when the input panel is called; and processing data input through the input panel by an application calling the input panel.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)of a Korean patent application filed on Sep. 25, 2012 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office and assigned Serial No. 10-2012-0106800,the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference inits entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method forprocessing a split view in a portable device. More particularly, thepresent disclosure relates to an apparatus for displaying an input panelof a split view and a method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a portable device may concurrently process various compositefunctions such as communication and multi-media, and may process atleast two applications. In this case, a display method of theapplication processes the applications except for currently executedapplications as a background layer. However, in order to display theapplications in the background layer, a complex key or a touchinteraction for executing an application processed as the backgroundmust be performed.

Further, recent electronic devices, such as handheld portable devices,can perform an ever-increasing quantity of various functions, and thesize of the display unit has been increased in order to efficientlydisplay multi-media data and because of consumer preference for largerdisplays. In this case, the display unit may split a screen into viewsof at least two applications, and display the split application views.

In the aforementioned case of split application views, when activatingan input panel in an optional application on a split view, an inputpanel may be displayed on a region other than a display region of acorresponding application. However, it may be preferable that the inputpanel is displayed at a fixed position of a split view. In addition,when activating an input panel of an application in a portable devicehaving a display function, the split view may extend to a display regionof another application of an adjacent split view.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides an apparatus capable of displaying aninput panel while ensuring a display region of an application on a splitview in a portable device displaying a plurality of applications on asplit view, and a method thereof.

The present invention further provides an apparatus capable of providingan input panel for display while ensuring a display region of anapplication activating an input panel in a portrait split view mode anda method thereof.

The present invention further provides an apparatus capable of providingan input panel for display while ensuring a display region of anapplication activating an input panel in a landscape split view mode anda method thereof.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method ofprocessing a split view in a portable device may include: displaying aplurality of applications as a split view corresponding to split displayregions of a display unit; displaying an input panel on a display regionof an application not calling the input panel when the input panel iscalled; and processing data input through the input panel by anapplication calling the input panel.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method ofprocessing a split view in a portable electronic device, such as ahandheld device, may include: displaying a plurality of applications asa split view in a portrait mode corresponding to split display regionsof a display unit; analyzing a position of a split view of anapplication calling an input when the input panel is called; displayingthe input panel to be overlaid with the application displayed on abottom split view when the application calling the input panel is anapplication on a top split view; lifting the bottom split view to havinga size of the input panel to display the input panel when theapplication calling the input panel is an application on a bottom splitview; and processing data input through the input panel by anapplication calling the input panel.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an apparatusfor processing a split view in a portable device may include: a displayunit displaying a plurality of applications as a split viewcorresponding to split display regions of the display unit; an inputunit generating an input for calling an input panel; and a controllercontrolling to display an input panel on a display region of anapplication not calling the input panel when the input panel is called,and to process data input through the input panel by an applicationcalling the input panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better appreciated by a person of ordinaryskill in the art from the following detailed description in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a portabledevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a method of displayingan input panel in a portable device having a split view display functionaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a method of display aninput panel in a portable device for displaying a split view accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F are views illustrating examples ofdisplaying an input panel in a portrait mode of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are views illustrating examples of displaying an inputpanel in a landscape mode of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a method of processingan input panel in a portrait mode in a portable device having a splitview display function.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described withreference to the accompanying drawings in detail. The same referencenumbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or likeparts. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structuresincorporated herein may be omitted when the inclusion of such well-knownfunctions and structures might obscure appreciation of the subjectmatter of the present invention by a person of ordinary skill in theart.

The portable device according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay configure a display of at least two applications as a split view todisplay the split view. When an input panel is activated from anoptional application displayed as the split view, the present inventionmay display the input panel while ensuring there is also a displayregion of a corresponding application. In this case, the split viewincludes at least two views which overlay with each other, or arealigned on the same layer. The split view may have a related executionfunction. When a terminal enabling a split view “calls” an input panelfrom an optional application displayed as the split view, the embodimentof the present invention maintains a view split state that does notchange the size of a region on which an application calling the inputpanel is displayed, and arranges the input panel. In this case, thearrangement of the input panel configures a split view so that the sizeof a display region of an application calling the input panel maintains(or is not reduced) and an input panel is displayed at a regiondisplaying another application. In this case, a display region of anapplication on which the input panel is displayed maintains the smallestview size of the views. The method of displaying an input panelaccording to the embodiment of the present invention may horizontally orvertically move a display region of an application according to adisplay mode to configure arrangement of the input panel, and configurethe arrangement of the input panel by exchanging the display regions ofthe application.

As used herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understandand appreciate that the term “split view” refers to a view displayed onone layer by splitting a plurality of (at least two) applications. Asused herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will also understandand appreciate that the term “touch interaction” means a hand touchinput and a pen touch input generated on a first input unit 140 or asecond input unit 150 by a user. Hereinafter, an application and “app”may be compatibly and even interchangeably used with each other.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a portabledevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The portable device may include various digital devices that may behandheld, such as a portable phone including a smart phone, an MP3terminal, a tablet device, phablet and a computer.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a communication unit 120 performs a wirelesscommunication function with a base station or another device. Thecommunication unit 120 may include at least one of an RF transmitter forup-converting a frequency of a transmitted signal and amplifying theconverted signal, an RF receiver for low-noise-amplifying a receivedsignal and down-converting the amplified signal, or a transceiver havingboth transmission and reception capability. Further, the communicationunit 210 may include a modulator and a demodulator. The modulatormodulates and transfers a transmitted signal to the transmitter, and thedemodulator demodulates a signal received through the receiver. In thiscase, the modulator and the demodulator may include an LTE, a WCDMA, aGSM, a WIFI, and a WIBRO, an NFC, and a Bluetooth. It is assumed in anembodiment of the present invention that the communication unit 120 mayinclude one or more of LTE, WIFI, and Bluetooth communication units.

A controller 100, which includes circuitry such as a processor,microprocessor, sub-processor, which be in an integrated circuit,controls an overall operation of the portable device, and controls anoperation displaying an input panel according to calling of an inputpanel of an application displayed as a split view. When the input panelis called from an optional application displayed as the split view, thecontroller 100 maintains a view split state by not changing the size ofa region on which an application calling the input panel is displayedand controls to arrange the input panel. To this end, the controller 100may horizontally or vertically (or a combination thereof) move a displayregion of an application according to a display mode to configure anarrangement of the input panel, and to configure the arrangement of theinput panel by exchanging the display regions of the application.

A memory 110, which comprises a non-transitory machine readable mediummay include a program memory storing machine readable code an operationprogram of the portable device and a program according to the embodimentof the present invention, and a data memory for storing data that may ormay not be in the form of data storage tables for operating portabledevice and data created during execution of a program.

A display unit 130 includes a display screen and displays information onan executed application under control of the controller 100. The displayunit 130 may include an LCD screen or an OLED screen, for example. Thefirst input unit 140 in this illustrative description may be implementedby a capacitive type or a resistive type, and outputs locationinformation of user touch (referred to as ‘finger touch’) to thecontroller 100. It is also possible to use an optical type input unit.Also, as used herein the term “touch” also includes “near-touch” wherephysical contact is not made but the body part of stylus, for example,comes within a sufficient distance for the surface to detect thepresence of the body part of stylus above the surface and is considereda touch by the device. A second input unit 150 may include, for example,an EMR sensor pad, and detects and outputs a pen touch input to thecontroller 100. The first input unit 140 and/or the second input unit150 may receive or detect a touch or near-touch and generate interactionor command for calling an input pattern of the split view according to auser input. The display unit 130, a touch panel 140, and an ERM panel150 may be integrally configured.

The sensor 160 includes hardware for detecting a location of theportable device. The sensor 160 detects the location of the portabledevice in order to generate a split view display mode of the displayunit 130. In other words, the controller 100 analyzes an output of thesensor 160. When the portable device is vertically oriented, the sensor160 detects the display mode of the display unit 130 as a portrait mode.When the portable device is horizontally oriented, the sensor 160detects the display mode of the display unit 130 as a landscape mode.The sensors may include but are not limited to an acceleration sensor, ageomagnetic sensor and/or a position sensor.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating operation a method of displaying aninput panel in a portable device having a split view display functionaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, at (211) a controller 100 configures a layout anddisplays a split view for displaying at least two applications on onescreen. In this case, the split views display correspondingapplications. In addition, the split views display a plurality ofapplications, and the split views may be displayed in various forms. Forexample, upon configuring the split view, the controller 100 analyzes anoutput of the sensor 160 to set a split view in a portrait mode, or alandscape mode, in accordance with a state of the portable device (e.g.the device is oriented in a landscape mode, or a portrait mode, etc.).

First, there can be a user selection of desired apps from amongpreviously-stored apps in a memory of the portable device to display asa split view, (or one of the apps, for example can be obtained fromanother source). In this case where the apps were from the memory of theportable device, preferably, the user collects apps in order to selectthe apps to be displayed as the split view. In this case, a touchinteraction for collecting apps to be displayed as the split view may beset. It is assumed in the non-limiting embodiment of the presentinvention that the app collection touch interaction is in this example a“pinch close”. Accordingly, when the user performs a pinch closeoperation, the first input unit 140 detects the performing of the pinchclose operation and outputs a detection result to the controller 100,and the controller 100 detects the performance of the pinch closeoperation and displays a plurality of apps on the display unit 130. Inaddition, the apps displayed on the display unit 130 may includecurrently running applications, recent applications, or an entire app(e.g., applications displayed on a home screen). In this manner, if theuser selects specific apps in a state where collected apps are beingdisplayed, the controller 100 may display the selected apps on thedisplay unit 130 as a split view.

Second, specific apps may include, for example, app switch taskinformation where switch to another app is necessary. The app switchtask information may include, for exampleInsert/Attach/Link/Preview/Browse. For example, a chatting app (e.g.,chat on application) may link with a multi-media app (e.g., galleryapplication) so that information, such as a photograph, can betransmitted during chatting. An e-mail app may link, for example, withan Internet app according to hyperlink information. Accordingly, if anapp having app switch task information is selected, the controller 100may call an app corresponding to the app switch task information, anddisplays the selected app and the app according to the app switch taskinformation on the display unit 130 as a split view.

Third, an application developer, the manufacturer of an electronicdevice, or a user may display the split view by setting specific apps.In this case, information on apps set as being displayed on the splitview may be stored in the controller 100 for subsequent retrieval.Further, if a corresponding app is selected, the controller 100 detectsthat a split view display app is selected and displays the apps setcorresponding to the app on the screen as the split view. The apps setby the manufacturer of an electronic device, for example, or the user,may include an app (e.g., e-book application) displaying a text, adictionary app, a map app, a web app, and a note app, just to name somenon-limiting possibilities. The note app is an app capable of performingmemo or note using a pen or a key pad, and may be used to noteinformation necessary while performing apps such as a text, a schedule,and/or multi-media.

In a state in which the above split view is displayed, the controller100 displays an executed application on a corresponding split view.Further, the user may execute various operations while confirming anapplication displayed on the split view.

At (213), when the user selects a data input window of an application ina predetermined position of the split view, the controller 100 detectsthat an input panel is called. Data signifying various information suchas characters, numbers, figures, and/or gestures may be input throughthe first input unit 140 and/or the second input unit 150. Hereinafter,there is an assumption that the data are characters.

With further reference to FIG. 2 and (213), a character input window mayinclude an input window capable of performing search, datainput/change/edit in an application. Accordingly, if the user selects aninput window of a specific application from a plurality of applicationviews displayed on respective split views, the controller 100 detectsthe selected input window through the first input unit 140 or the secondinput unit 150, and determines that the input panel is called from acorresponding application.

The input panel may include, for example, a 3*4 key pad (or keyboard) ora qwerty key pad (or keyboard), just to name some non-limitingpossibilities. In this case, the input panel may include an input panel(static SIP or “soft input panel”) displayed at a fixed position or aninput panel (floating SIP) having a position and a size which may bechanged according to user selection. Further, the controller 100 maydifferently set a position on which the input panel is displayedaccording to a display mode of the split view. The display mode mayinclude a portrait mode and a landscape mode. The controller 100 maydetect a direction in which the portable device is oriented or locatedthrough the sensor 160 to determine a display mode (portrait mode orlandscape mode) of the display unit 130.

When providing display of the input panel according to an embodiment ofthe present invention, if the display mode is the portrait mode, theinput panel is arranged at a bottom region of the display unit 130. Ifthe display mode is the landscape mode, the input panel is arranged atan application (that is, another application adjacent to the applicationcalling the input panel) opposite to the application calling the inputpanel. Further, a current portable device provides one hand mode. Inthis case, when a user is right-handed, the controller 100 displays aninput panel at a right bottom region of the display unit 130. When theuser is left-handed, the controller 100 may control to display the inputpanel at a left bottom region of the display unit 130.

Accordingly, at (213) if a call of the input panel is detected, then at(215) the controller 100 changes a screen to display the input panel sothat a screen of a region on which the application calling the inputpanel is displayed is not covered with the input panel.

For example, when the display mode is the portrait mode and an inputpanel is called from an application where a split view is arranged at abottom region of the display unit 130, at (215), the controller 100lifts a display region of the bottom application by changing the size ofan top input panel, or changes an input position of a split view of anapplication to display the input panel at a bottom display region.Further, when the display mode is the landscape mode, the controller 100displays the input panel at a region on which an application opposite tothe application calling the input panel is displayed.

For example, when the input panel is called from an application of asplit view arranged in a left region of the display unit 130, thecontroller 100 displays the input panel at a position of a split view ofa right application.

The display of an application (that is, application not calling theinput panel) can be covered or moved by the input panel. The applicationis displayed for the purpose of calling another application in a statethat the input panel is displayed.

More particularly, if a region on which an application not calling theinput panel is selected in a state that the input panel is displayed,the controller 100 may display a corresponding application to have theoriginal split view. Accordingly, when two split views are displayed, itis an option that the size of the input panel may be set to have a sizesmaller than a size of the split view. In addition, when the input panelis displayed, the controller 100 displays the input panel and theapplication calling the input panel on the display unit 130, and alsothe display of some of applications not calling the input panel on aremaining display region of the display unit 130. Upon adjusting thelayout of a split view including the input panel, the controller 100 mayset or adjust a display region of the applications not calling the inputpanel to the smallest adjustment region, or may adjust the displayregion of the applications not calling the input panel to be smallerthan the smallest adjustment region. The smallest adjustment regionrefers to a region having an App view form to the smallest regioncapable of using a displayed App. When the display region of theapplications not calling the input panel becomes smaller than thesmallest adjustment region, the display region is converted into theform of an icon or minimized so that an App may be identified in even asmall region.

Further, if the input panel is called in a state that the display regionis displayed as at least having three split views, the controller 100may split and display the applications not calling the input panel tohave the same size at a region between the input panel and a displayregion of the applications calling the input panel.

At (217) an input is processed by the controller.

With continued reference to FIG. 4, at (219) if a termination command isgenerated while displaying the input panel of the split view to controlthe operation of the split view, the controller 100 detects thetermination command, and at (221) processes the termination. Thetermination processing terminates display of the input panel accordingto the termination command and returns to a display procedure of thesplit view at (211) before displaying the input panel, and/or mayterminate processing of the split view and display operation.

As described above, the method of displaying a split view in a portabledevice according to the embodiment of the present invention may bechanged according to a portrait mode and a landscape mode. Moreparticularly, in a case of the portrait mode, when an input panel iscalled from a split view region of a bottom region, as described above,the controller 100 may display the input panel as the input panel liftsa split view (1/N Split), and exchanges display regions of anapplication displayed on top and bottom split views to be displayed.Moreover, in the case of landscape mode, when the input panel is calledfrom a split view region of a right region, as described above, thecontroller 100 displays the input panel at a right side of the displayunit 130, and exchanges display regions of an application displayed onleft and right split views so that a display region of the applicationis not covered with the input panel.

The input panel may be called from an application displayed on aposition other than a region on which the input will be displayed in theportrait and landscape modes. In this case, the input panel may bedisplayed by being overlaid with a display region of a correspondingapplication.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating operation a method of display aninput panel in a portable device for displaying a split view accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C,4D, 4E and 4F are respective views illustrating examples of displayingan input panel in a portrait mode in FIG. 3, and FIGS. 5A and 5B areviews illustrating examples of displaying an input panel in a landscapemode in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 5B, at (311) a controller 100 analyzes adisplay mode of a split view. The controller 100 may analyze an outputof a sensor 160 to confirm a display mode of a display unit 130. Moreparticularly, if the output of the sensor 160 is analyzed by thecontroller 100, and the controller determines that the portable deviceis vertically oriented, the controller 100 configures and outputs asplit view in a portrait mode to a display unit 130. If the controllerdetermines that the portable device is horizontally oriented, thecontroller 100 configures and outputs a split view in a landscape modeto the display unit 130.

When the split view displayed on the display unit 130 is in the portraitmode, at (311) the controller 100 detects the split view in the portraitmode and analyzes a display region (e.g., a position of a split view onwhich the application calling the input panel is displayed) of anapplication calling the input panel (313).

In this case, the input panel may be displayed at a fixed position ofthe display unit 130. In a case of the portrait mode, a display positionof the input panel may be set at a bottom region of the display unit130. Accordingly, when the input panel is displayed, such a display maybe overlaid with an application (that is, the bottom separation viewregion in a split view). In this case, when an application calling theinput panel is located at a bottom region of the display unit 130, adisplay region of the application may be changed to a top display regionof the application.

Accordingly, if the application calling the input panel is located at abottom display region, at (315) the controller 100 detects and at (317)changes a position of the application calling the input panel, and at(319) displays the input panel at a preset position (bottom region ofthe display unit 130).

In this case, a method of changing a position of a split view in theapplication may include a method of lifting the split view and a methodof changing a display position of applications displayed on the splitview.

However, at (315) if a position of a split view on which the applicationcalling the input panel is displayed is different from a position onwhich the input panel will be displayed, the controller 100 detects thisdifference in position and at (319) displays the input panel at a presetposition (bottom region of display unit 130).

As described above, when the split view is displayed in a portrait mode,in this embodiment of the present invention, if change of the split viewdisplaying an app is necessary, a method of lifting a display region ofthe app and a method of changing a display position of apps may be used.

When change of the split view is necessary in the portrait mode, amethod of setting a position of the input panel by lifting the splitview and a method of exchanging and displaying positions of applicationsdisplayed on the split view may be used.

First, the method of setting a position of the input panel by liftingthe split view will now be described. The controller 100 confirms adisplay position of an application calling the input panel (i.e.,position of split view). When the input panel is called from an Applocated at a top display region of the display unit, the input panel isdisplayed to shield App(s) of a bottom end based on the App calling theinput panel. However, when the input panel is called from an App locatedat a bottom end, the controller 100 controls the App calling the inputpanel lifts App(s) of a top based on the App calling the input panel toprovide the input panel. In this case, some of the adjacent Apps fromamong the Apps lifted according to a region size of the input panel areshown on a screen. Some of the adjacent Apps are shown on a screen forthe purpose of selecting another App during operation of the applicationusing the input panel.

For example, if an application “A” calls for the input panel in a statethat applications A and “B” are displayed on a split view as illustratedin 411 of FIG. 4A, the controller 100 displays on a split view region ofthe application B located on a bottom region of the display unit 130 asillustrated in 413 as being overlaid. In this case, a part of a displayregion of the application B shielded by the input panel is displayed.When the application B calls for the input panel in a state that theapplications A and B are displayed on the split view as illustrated in421 of FIG. 4B, the controller 100 lifts a display region of theapplications B and A located on a bottom region of the display unit 130as illustrated in 433, and displays the input panel on a bottom regionof the display unit. In this case, some of display regions of the liftedapplication A are viewed.

Secondly, the method of changing a position of the split view in theportrait mode will now be described. The controller 100 confirms adisplay position (i.e., position of split view) of the applicationcalling the input panel. When the input panel is called from an Applocated at a top display region of the display unit, the input panel isdisplayed to shield App(s) of a bottom end based on the App calling theinput panel. However, when an App located at a bottom end calls for theinput panel, the controller 100 exchanges a split view position betweenthe App calling the input panel and an app not calling the input panel(that is, the app calling the input panel is moved to the split viewposition located at the top region), and displays the input panel asbeing overlaid with a display region of another application which isexchanged in the bottom region. In this case, some of the applicationsdisplayed on a bottom end region are shown on a screen according to aregion size of the input panel. The part of the application is shown onthe screen for the purpose of selecting another app while operating theapplication using the input panel.

If the application A calls for the input panel in a state that theapplications A and B are displayed on the split view as illustrated in431 of FIG. 4C, the controller 100 displays the input panel to beoverlaid with a split view region of the application B located on abottom region of the display unit 130 as illustrated in 433. In thiscase, a part of the display region of the application B shielded by theinput panel is displayed. If the application B calls for the input panelin a state that the applications A and B are displayed on the split viewas illustrated in 44 of FIG. 4D, the controller 100 exchanges displayregions of the applications A and B of the display unit 130 asillustrated in 433. Accordingly, the application B is displayed on a topregion of the display unit 130, the application A is displayed on abottom region of the display unit 130, and the input panel is displayedas being overlaid with the application A in a bottom region of thedisplay unit 130. In this case, some of display regions of theapplication in which the display region is changed are viewed.

Thirdly, the input panel may be displayed on a top region of the displayunit 130 in the portrait mode. In this case, if the application B callsfor the input panel in a state that a split view as illustrated in 451of FIG. 4E is displayed, the controller 100 displays the input panel asbeing overlaid with the top region of the application A as illustratedin 453. However, when the application A calls for the input panel in astate that a split view as illustrated in 461 of FIG. 4F is displayed,the controller 100 downs the applications A and B as illustrated in 463by the size of the input panel, and displays the input panel at acorresponding position. In cases of FIGS. 4E and 4F, some of displayregions of the application in which the display region is changed areviewed.

With reference to FIG. 3, if at (311) it is determined that the displaymode is a landscape mode, at (331) the controller 100 analyzes a displayregion position of the application calling the input panel, and displaysat (333) the input panel at a region of an application not calling theinput panel. In an embodiment of the present invention, the input panelis provided to an opposite direction of a focus area of a split view(1/N Split view) in the landscape mode. In other words, the controller100 positions the display of input panel in a region of the split viewexcept for the selected region in the landscape mode. In this case, theinput panel may include, for example, a Qwerty or 3*4 key pad or a keyboard and may support one hand mode. The one hand mode is a mode wherethe user may operate the input panel by a right hand or a left hand, andan input panel in the one hand mode has a size smaller than a size of aninput panel upon using a both hand mode.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the input panel may begenerated at a fixed position to have a fixed size, and may be providedin the form of an input panel (Floating SIP) capable of moving aposition according to Static SIP within a predetermined region or a usersetting. Accordingly, the controller 100 performs tasks 311 and 333while the display is in the landscape mode. When an App located at aleft side based on the center calls for the input panel, the controller100 controls display of the input panel at an opposite App displayregion adjacent to the calling App, and Static SIP or Floating SIP maybe selectively provided within a predetermined region of the displayedinput panel.

When the application calls for the input panel in a state that theportable device displays a split view in a landscape mode, thecontroller 100 displays an input panel an opposite direction of a splitview (Focused region of 1/N Split) on which the application calling theinput panel is displayed as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B. In thiscase, an SIP type of the input panel supports Full Qwerty, 3*4 key or aninput panel of one hand mode.

For example, as illustrated in 511 of FIG. 5A, if an App A located at aleft side calls for the input panel in a state that a split view of thelandscape mode is displayed, the controller 100 displays an input panelas being overlaid with an opposite App B adjacent to the App A asillustrated in 513 or 515. In this case, the input panel may be providedin the form of Static SIP within a predetermined region as illustratedin 513 or in the form of a Floating SIP as illustrated in 515.

Further, as illustrated in 531 of FIG. 5 b, when an App B located in aright split view calls for the input panel in a state that a split viewin a landscape mode is displayed, the controller 100 may display theinput panel as being overlaid with a split view region of an oppositeApp A adjacent to an App B as illustrated in 533 or 535. In this case,the size of the input panel may be provided in the form of Static SIPwithin a predetermined region as illustrated in 533 or in the form ofFloating SIP as illustrated in 535.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a method of processingan input panel in a portrait mode in a portable device having a splitview display function according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring now to FIG. 6, at (611) a controller 100 controls the displayof N applications on corresponding N split views. The split view islayout on one layer, and displays a corresponding application. Asdescribed above, the number of split views may be determined accordingto the number of displayed applications, and applications displayed onthe split views may be set in various schemes. In an embodiment of thepresent invention, as illustrated above, the user may select desiredapps from among a collection of apps and display the selected apps onthe split view. In this case, apps may be selected from a currentlyexecuted app (running application), a recently executed app (recentlyrun application) or the entirety of the apps (e.g., applicationsdisplays on home screen). Further, an execute app calls for another appto display as a split view. Specific apps may include app switch taskinformation requiring switch to another app, and the app switch taskinformation may include Insert/Attach/Link/Preview/Browse. Accordingly,when a corresponding app is executed, a corresponding app may be calledand may be displayed on the split view. Apps displayed on the split viewmay be determined by a manufacturing company, and the user may determinespecific apps in a preset mode (registration mode).

If user selects an input panel from a split view region displaying apredetermined application in a state that the above split view isdisplayed, at (613) the controller 100 detects the selected input paneland detects that the input panel is called. In this case, the inputpanel may be called when a character input window is selected duringexecuting the application.

For example, the input panel may be called when the user selects anInternet search window or selects a character input window for inputtingmemo or schedule.

In this case, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, it is assumed that a displaymode of the split view is a portrait mode, the input panel uses a methodof lifting and displaying an application.

At (617), the controller 100 determines whether the application callingthe input panel is an application of a top split view. The controller100 confirms a display position of the application calling the inputpanel (that is, position of a split view). In this case, if an Appdisplayed on a top split view of the display unit calls for the inputpanel at (617), the controller 100 displays the input panel (621) toshield App(s) based on the App calling for the input panel. If theapplication A calls for the input panel in a state that applications Aand B are displayed on the split view as illustrated in 411 of FIG. 4A,the controller 100 displays the input panel to overlaid with a splitview region of the application B located at a bottom region of thedisplay unit 130 as illustrated in 413 of FIG. 4A. Further, the inputpanel may be displayed to have the size capable of displaying a part ofa display region of the application B.

However, when an App located at a bottom end calls for the input panel,at (617) the controller 100 detects it and the App calling for the inputpanel at (619) lifts App(s) at a top end by a size of the input panelbased on the App calling the input panel, and at (621) displays theinput panel. In this case, a part of an adjacent App among lifted Appsaccording to a region size of the input panel is viewed. If theapplication B calls for the input panel in a state that applications Aand B are displayed on a split view as illustrated in 421 of FIG. 4B,the controller 100 lifts a display region of the applications A and Blocated at a bottom region of the display unit 130 as illustrated in 433of FIG. 4Cby the size of a display region of the input panel, anddisplays the input panel at a bottom region of the display unit. In thiscase, some of the lifted display regions of the application A areviewed. The input panel may include a 3*4 or qwerty key pad (orkey-board). Further, the input panel may include an input panel (StaticSIP) having a fixed size within a predetermined region and an inputpanel (Floating SIP) having the size and a position which may bechanged.

As described, after the input panel is displayed, at (623) thecontroller 100 processes key data detected through a first input unit140 and/or a second input unit 150.

Next, if a termination command is generated, at (625) the controller 100detects the generated termination command, and at (627) terminatesdisplay of the input panel and restores the display of the split view toan original state. For example, as illustrated in 413 of FIG. 4A or 423of FIG. 4B, the split view is changed to a previous state as illustratedin 411 or 421 to be displayed.

As described above, if the input panel is called from a predeterminedapplication in a state that a split view is displayed in a portraitmode, the controller 100 examines a position of a split view of anapplication calling the input to display the input panel. In this case,when the input panel is called from an App located at a top, thecontroller provides an input panel to shield App(s) of a bottom endbased on an App calling the input panel. In addition, when the inputpanel is called from the App located at the bottom end, the controllerlifts App(s) at a top end based on the App calling the input panel toprovide the input panel. In this case, some of adjacent Apps amonglifted Apps according to the size of the input panel should be shown ona screen. Further, use of the input panel is terminated, the split viewof the application is restored to an original provision state of theinput panel.

The portable device according to an embodiment of the present inventioncan efficiently display the input panel in an efficient screenconfiguration while ensuring display regions of respective applications(1/N Split App) of the split view in a multi-window. The portable deviceaccording to the embodiment of the present invention can provide theinput panel while sufficiently ensuring 1/N Split App region, andaccordingly a display region of the application minimize obstacle due todisplay of the input panel to efficiently display the input panel on thescreen.

The above-described methods according to the present invention can beimplemented in hardware, firmware or via the execution of software orcomputer code that configures hardware for operation, and is stored on anon-transitory machine readable medium such as a CD ROM, DVD, RAM, afloppy disk, a hard disk, or a magneto-optical disk, such as a flopticaldisk or computer code downloaded over a network originally stored on aremote recording medium or a non-transitory machine readable medium andstored on a local non-transitory recording medium, so that the methodsdescribed herein can be loaded into hardware such as a general purposecomputer, or a special processor or in programmable or dedicatedhardware, such as an ASIC or FPGA. As would be understood in the art,the computer, the processor, microprocessor controller or theprogrammable hardware include memory components, e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash,etc. that may store or receive software or computer code that whenaccessed and executed by the computer, processor or other hardwareimplement the processing methods described herein. In addition, it wouldbe recognized that when a general purpose computer accesses code forimplementing the processing shown herein, the execution of the codetransforms the general purpose computer into a special purpose computerfor executing the processing shown herein. In addition, an artisanunderstands and appreciates that a “processor” or “microprocessor”comprise hardware in the claimed invention. Under the broadestreasonable interpretation, the appended claims constitute statutorysubject matter in compliance with 35 U.S.C. §101. The terms “unit” or“module” as used herein is to be understood under the broadestreasonable interpretation as constituting statutory subject matter under35 U.S.C. §101 and does not constitute software per se. When a unit ormodule includes machine executable code it is to be understood that anon-transitory machine readable medium contains the machine executablecode that is loaded into hardware such a processor or controller forexecution.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed in detail hereinabove, it should be clearly understood thatmany variations and modifications of the basic inventive concepts hereintaught which may appear to those skilled in the present art will stillfall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method in a portable device, comprising:displaying a display screen having at least a first region and a secondregion, the first region being displayed below the second region,wherein a first application is executed in the first region and a secondapplication is executed in the second region; and in response to arequest input in the first region, displaying an input panel at an upperportion of the second region, wherein data input through the input paneldisplayed in the second region is processed by the first application,wherein the displaying the input panel further comprises: analyzing by acontroller a mode of portable device by detecting an orientation of theportable device, wherein the first region is displayed directly belowthe second region when the mode is a portrait mode; and wherein thefirst region is displayed directly adjacent to the second region whenthe mode is a landscape mode.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: in response to a second request input in the second region,shifting a display of the first region and the second region in aparticular direction causing a portion of the first region from beingdisplayed from the display screen and displaying the input panel in anarea from which the second region is shifted, wherein data input throughthe input panel displayed in the area is processed by the secondapplication.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the landscape mode,the input panel is displayed as a floating input panel moveable inresponse to an input.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein a horizontalsize of the input panel being displayed is smaller than a horizontalsize of one of the regions of the display screen.
 5. The method of claim4, further comprising in response to a termination command, terminatingdisplay of the input panel and restoring the display screen to anoriginal state.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the input panel has afixed size and position.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein a size of thefloating input panel is changeable in response to user selection.
 8. Themethod of claim 5, further comprising a one hand mode operable withinthe landscape mode, wherein: when a user is indicated as right-handed,the input panel is displayed in a rightwards region of the displayscreen, and when a user is indicated as left-handed, the input panel isdisplayed in a leftwards region of the display screen.
 9. A method in aportable device, comprising: displaying a display screen having at leasta first region and a second region, the first region being displayedbelow the second region, wherein a first application is executed in thefirst region and a second application is executed in the second region;in response to a request input in the second region, shifting a displayof first region in a particular direction while maintaining a display ofsecond region causing a portion of the first region from being displayedfrom the display screen and displaying an input panel in an area fromwhich the first region is shifted; and in response to a request in thefirst region, shifting a display of the first region and the secondregion in a particular direction causing a portion of the second regionfrom being displayed from the display screen and displaying inthe inputpanel in the area from which the first region is shifted, wherein datainput through the input panel is processed by the first application whenthe request is received in the first region, and processed by the secondapplication when the request is received in the second region.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, wherein a size of the input panel being displayed issmaller than a size of regions of the display screen.
 11. The method ofclaim 10, further comprising: in response to a termination command,terminating display of the input panel and restoring the display screento an original state.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the inputpanel has a fixed size and position.
 13. The method of claim 11, whereinthe input panel comprises a floating input panel wherein at least one ofa position and a size of the floating input panel are changeable inresponse to a user selection.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein thefirst region is displayed below the second region when the portabledevice in a portrait mode, and the first region is displayed adjacent tothe second region when the portable device is a landscape mode, themethod further comprising a one hand mode, wherein: when a user isindicated as right-handed, the input panel is displayed in a rightwardsregion of the display screen, and when a user is indicated asleft-handed, the inputpanel is displayed in a leftwards region of thedisplay screen.
 15. An apparatus for processing a split view in aportable device, the apparatus comprising: a display unit for displayinga display screen; an input unit receiving an input; and a controllerfor: displaying a display screen having at least a first region and asecond region, the first region being displayed below the second region,wherein a first application is executed in the first region and a secondapplication is executed in the second region, in response to a requestinput in the second region, shifting a display of first region in aparticular direction while maintaining a display of second regioncausing a portion of the first region from being displayed from thedisplay screen and displaying an input panel in an area from which thefirst region is shifted, and in response to a request input in the firstregion, shifting a display of the first region and the second region ina particular direction causing a portion of the second region from beingdisplayed from the display screen and displaying the input panel in thearea from which the first region is shifted, wherein data input throughthe input panel is processed by the first application when the requestis received in the first region, and processed by the second applicationwhen the request is received in the second region.
 16. The apparatus ofclaim 15, further comprising a sensor for detecting an orientation ofthe portable device, wherein the controller analyzes an output of thesensor to determine a display mode, wherein the first region isdisplayed below the second region when the portable device in a portraitmode, and the first region is displayed adjacent to the second regionwhen the portable device is in a landscape mode.
 17. The apparatus ofclaim 15, wherein when the portion of the second region is moved off thedisplay screen, a second portion of the second region is maintainedwithin the display screen.